My eyes widened, and I found it suddenly hard to breathe. There he was, Teddy Sanders, standing there with wide eyes and his jaw fallen slightly. He was obviously as surprised to see me as I was him, and as soon as he realized we both had our hands wrapped around the chocolate chip ice cream container, he'd let it go, it falling into my hand. I let out a cough as I dropped the ice cream into the shopping cart, moving to pass by him as if I'd never seen him. 

"Kiya wait!" Teddy called behind me, and I stopped in my tracks. I stayed where I was, unsure on whether or not I should turn and talk to him. Then again, I could also continue to walk away as if I didn't see him.

"Could we talk, please?" He pleaded, and I took a minute to think about what to say.

"Talk? About what?" I asked.

"Please don't act stupid, Ky. We both know that you're the complete opposite of that. Please, let me talk about everything that happened." Teddy said, and I couldn't help the tears that pricked the back of my eyes.

"Where do you want to meet?" I finally decided.

"The park. Seven."

I just walked away, finishing my shopping. After I got everything I need, I quickly checked out, putting the groceries in the car and putting my cart up before getting in my car and heading home.

It was hard not to just smile, at the fact that I saw Teddy. But I knew talking to him was no good. For one, my parents were really mad at him. Second of all, he hurt me, and I'm trying to avoid getting hurt again. Which means avoiding my feelings, and ignoring them. It was simple- Teddy and I fell in love too quickly, dated too quickly, just moved too quickly.

And it ruined us.

Sighing, I turned off the car, getting out and grabbing the groceries before making my way inside. My parents looked at me, before my dad walked over to help put the groceries away.

"You were gone for a while." He mumbled, starting a conversation with me.

After everything that happened with Nash and Teddy, my parents have tried to talk to me more, getting me to open up to them.

"I mean not really if you think about it. I was gone long enough just to get groceries and come home." I shrugged, taking a moment to look at the ice cream before putting it in the freezer.

"Mhm, I see. And why were you just sitting out there in your car with a giant smile on your face for like three minutes?" He asked, not believing me.

"She met a boy!" My mom said out of nowhere, a big smirk on her face.

"What? No." I denied, feeling my face start to meet up.

Of course I did, he just happened to be one I've known and one that you don't like.

"C'mon Ky, tell me. Us. Did you meet someone?" My dad asked, a look on his face that I couldn't read.

"Maybe, but it wasn't anything or anyone important." I said, beginning to mess with the cookies on the plates by arranging them neatly.

"Who was it? Do we know him? Is he cute? What's his name?" My mom bombarded me with questions.

"It was Teddy..." I mumbled. "But it wasn't anything serious and-"

"Nope! Kiya he hurt you, and I don't want you to stood so low as to going back to him." My dad said as he crossed his arms.

"Who ever said I was going back to him?" I asked. "We just ran into each other at the store. nothing big." Grabbing my phone, I clicked the home button to see that Natalie's called me at least three times in the past ten minutes, and that it was 6:34, almost time for me to meet Teddy like I told him I would.

"Look, I know what I'm doing, okay? I gotta go, Nat's called me three times, and probably needs something important for calling me that much since we haven't talked a lot lately. I love you guys." I said, kissing them both on the cheek and throwing on a jacket before walking out the front door.

After I got sat into my car, I dialed Nat's number before waiting on her to answer.

"Why weren't you answering my calls? I called you three times!" She yelled through the speakers as soon as she answered.

"I was talking to my parents. What's up?" I asked, messing with the steering wheel.

"I just wanted to apologize for everything that's happened when Nash was here last, I never officially said sorry and we've been kind of rocky and distant ever since. I am sorry though, and although he is my brother you're my best friend and what he did to you was no exception, and I know that Teddy was just trying to stick up for you considering I was being a shitty best friend by not. I want to make my life better, and you're part of the better." She explained, and I couldn't help the slight tears that came to my eyes. I really did miss her.

"I forgive you, Nat. You weren't really that big of a part in the drama, you were there but not really... there if you know what I mean." I couldn't help but smile. "Besides, you didn't even know about half of the things that were going on."

"Yeah, I was way too caught up in boys to know what was really going on with you. Like really, you know? And I've matured a lot since then. If I didn't drag you to the parties half of the time, you wouldn't have had to deal with any of that shit." She said.

"You talking about boys all of the time was a part of you made you yourself. It was like something that helped makeup you, and whether it be good or bad sometimes, it was something I enjoyed listening about," I explained. 

"Nash is coming down again." She said quickly, and I felt my eyes widen.

"He was sent off to military school after my parents found out about what he did to you because I told them what happened. He'd lost every single one of his scholarships so he can't be in school anymore so now the only place he has to go after getting out is here at home."

"Wait, will he be like, living with you again?" I asked.

Natalie was silent for a moment. "Well, yeah. I wanted to let you know ahead of time to warn you. He has nowhere else to go, Ky. And even though he did hurt you he is still my brother, and my parent's only son. We all still love him so much, he's going to be staying here until he can get on his own two feet again, then he will be on his own completely afterwards. I know you'll probably stay away from me when he gets here, and I completely understand why if you do."

Looking at the clock in my car, I noticed it was five past seven.

"Shit, look Natalie I don't mean to get off of the phone in such a rush but I'm needing to meet someone at seven and I'm late. I definitely want to talk about this later, okay? I promise I'm not going to stop hanging out with you." I rambled, before buckling up and putting the car in reverse.

"Okay. Bye, Kiya." She said before hanging up, and I just threw my phone into the cup holder before backing out, driving toward the park Teddy and I used to go to often.

When I got there, I didn't hesitate to shut the car off and jump out, only bothering to take my keys with me. My phone didn't matter, and no matter how much I hated to admit it I knew that deep down I wanted to talk to Teddy just as much as he wanted to talk to me.

Stopping, I looked around for the boy. I couldn't spot him at first, but then the moment I did he'd stood up and turned around, beginning to walk away. He must think I stood him up.

He froze the moment he saw me, quickly pulling whatever he was holding behind his back. Slowly making my way over to him, I stopped in front of him, my eyes never leaving his.

"Teddy I'm so sorry I'm late I got caught up with my mom and dad then Natalie and-"

"Don't." He said, cutting me off. I immediately shut my mouth, biting the inside of my lip. "You don't need to apologize for being late, I'm lucky that you even came in the first place," He added.

"Okay." I mumbled.

"Should we go sit?" He asked, nodding his head backward, probably talking about the place he was previously sat before at the table.

I nodded, and he began to turn, before remembering he had something in his hand.

"I got these, for you." He handed me a small bag, and I took it before looking inside to see it was a bunch of candy.

"You didn't have to," I said.

"But I did." He shook his head. "Let's go."

He gently grabbed onto my elbow as he led me to the table he was recently sitting at, and I shoved his arm off of me lightly as I walked to the other side of the table and sat down across from him, setting the bag down in front of us.

"God, Kiya where do I start?" He asked out loud.

"Maybe start with why you left." I stated, keeping my cool.

"Well, do you remember the day that your dad pretty much set us up seeing each other again? Like when I worked as the shirtless model and he knew I worked there and brought you?" He asked.

"Of course I do, Teddy. That was the day you were supposed to take me on the date." I mumbled. "When you left."

"Right," He said. "Well, I went home that day because I was so happy! And I talked about it with Pete and he basically told me all of this stuff."

"What type of stuff?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well I told him you gave me another chance after just kind of not contacting you, and he was telling me I shouldn't mess with you." Teddy said. He looked sincere, but I wasn't dumb enough to believe it. At least just yet anyway.

"Why's that?"

"When I asked him why he would say something like that he brought up a lot of good points. Like everything that I'd put you through by putting your family through hell. I could barely find a job. I've been fired because I now have a criminal record for everything that happened, and I went months and months blaming your parents, Kiya. But it was my fault the entire time. He didn't want me to hurt you any further." Teddy explained, reaching across the table and grabbing onto my hands.

I pulled them away, as tears pricked at my eyes. There was no way I could cry, not in front of Teddy like this.

"He thought that our age difference and history would make things worse," Teddy continued. "He was bringing up everything that you'd been through with Nash, and how we basically rushed into things."

"Well, he was right." I finally spoke up. "And I'm not saying this to hurt you, Teddy. We were both stupid, and young. And sure, we're both still a little stupid and young, I'm definitely not the way that I was two years ago. I had a crush on Nash for so long, and I was so stupid to think that a college guy would actually take notice in me. Sure, the college guy happened to be my best friends brother who always treated me like a princess, but he's just like every other guy. I've never let anyone into my life as easily as I let you, Teddy."

Teddy stayed quiet, so I took that as a chance to keep talking.

"It took years for me to build the relationship I had with Natalie and Nash, and he managed to get under my skin and find my weakness. He knew I liked him, I suck at hiding how I feel. So for me to just let you into my life the way that I did, Teddy? It was a miracle. I've never fallen for anyone as fast as I've fallen for you, I've never loved anyone as much as I thought that I loved you." I said, tears escaping my eyes.

"Wait, you thought you loved me?" Teddy asked, his voice cracking.

"Yes, Teddy. This was two years ago, and maybe it is love, I don't know. I don't know what love is really like. When I told you I loved you, I might have meant it. But that was back then, before you broke my heart. You could've at least told me, you didn't have to stand me up." I cried. "It took me months to get over you. Hell, I don't think I'm even fully over you now. Probably because of how I surprised myself by letting you into my life so quickly, who knows. But Teddy, the point is coming and giving me snacks and saying sorry doesn't fix anything. I've yet to trust a boy the way I trusted both you and Nash, and I've yet to have the heart to tell my parents I don't think I'll ever be able to date again."

"Kiya don't say that-" Teddy started, but I just shook my head as I cut him off.

"No, Teddy. You've said everything that you wanted to say, now I'll say what I want to say. I was young, I was dumb! And clearly so were you. You sit here and let other people dictate who you date, and how you act. If you didn't listen to Pete then maybe we could've fixed our past mistakes, not continue to make more! Sometimes, it's good to listen to people. In my case, listen to you when you told me you didn't like Nash. Sometimes, it's not a good thing to listen to other people. In your case, Pete!" I stood up, beginning to walk away.

Teddy wasted no time and getting up and following me.

"Kiya, wait!" He said, and I stopped, turning to him. "I'm a dumbass. Okay? I'm the stupidest person alive, I get it. I've spent these past few years struggling because I now have a criminal record, I can't seem to find a job, and I lost you! You were the best thing to ever happen to me and I completely ruined that! I didn't ask you to come here to beg for you to take me back."

"Then why am I here, Teddy? What's with the candy and the gentle touches and grabbing my hands across the table?" I asked, motioning my hands around.

"I was just being friendly! Okay? I want to be friends. If you're not wanting to be in a relationship because I fucked it up then I get it, that's fine. But I at least need you in my life." Teddy walked closer, grabbing my hands.

"Please, Ky. We don't have to be a couple. I can't promise you that I won't flirt, but I promise you I won't kiss you or try anything physical without your consent. If I'm grabbing your hands across the table or leading you to a table by simply grabbing your elbow it's not because I want in your pants, I just want to be there as a friend. I miss you." He had tears in his eyes, which only led to more coming out of mine.

"Friends? That's all you want?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Yes, Kiya. I just need you in my life, even if it hurts that we're not together." Although the thought of being just friends with Teddy hurt, and my parents would be mad at me for even letting him in my life again, I nodded.

It was going to be different, and weird. But he's apologized, and I had a feeling now that he's seen me since everything happened and has explained why everything happened, he wouldn't give up.

"Fine, Teddy. Just don't fuck up again." I mumbled, starting to walk away again.

"Kiya wait!" Teddy said, and I rolled my eyes as I turned to him. "Don't forget this." He handed me the bag of candy, and I just sent a slight smile as I walked back to my car.

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thank u for reading :)